American bandmates Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards just like to dabble in rock 'n' roll music

The cliched image of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll is one that is often attached to American rock duo Deap Vally, because they rock out to tunes about dirty old men and taking the "walk of shame", as well as pull off the tough leather and ripped jeans look effortlessly.

But the two musicians - guitarist Lindsey Troy and drummer Julie Edwards - are quick to point out that they are not "wild", even if their music suggests otherwise.

Edwards, 35, says of the common misconception: "We don't party hearty all the time and we're really nice and kind people."

Troy, 28, interjects: "People sometimes assume we are stuck-up b****es because we play rock music, which I don't really understand."

Edwards adds with a slight chuckle: "People don't know that I wear glasses.

"I'm nearly blind... near-sighted with astigmatism in both eyes... so yeah, I am a secret geek."

They were speaking to Life! when they were in town recently as part of a live music series called #Standforsomething, organised by shoe brand Dr. Martens. They performed at Beep Studios in Bukit Merah Central last Friday.

Even the band's founding started in a wholesome place - a knitting shop.

Edwards says: "I used to own a knitting shop and I gave classes and sold supplies. Lindsey wandered in one day and asked about crochet."

Finishing her sentence, Troy says: "We started sharing stories about living in Los Angeles and being in other bands. Julie was in another band called The Pity Party, but she had an idea to start an all-girl band."

That was back in 2011 when the band were initially a trio - including bassist Ashley Dzerigian, who did not stay in the band for long and now plays in American R&B singer CeeLo Green's band.

They have no intention of expanding at the moment.

Troy says: "We're happy being a duo. I've always said, 'Whoever's in your band is whoever's meant to be in your band.'

"You don't decide to stick someone in there arbitrarily, but if you find the perfect person for a threesome, just try it out."

Shortly after they released their debut single Gonna Make My Own Money in 2012, they were signed to Island label and received warm reviews for another single, End Of The World, from music critics including BBC Radio.

In June last year, they released their debut full-length album Sistrionix, a record filled

with garage rock tunes inspired by personal experiences.

"A couple of songs off Sistrionix are based on our experience with the guy who signed us to our label," says Troy, who says it is up to the listener to interpret the music to figure out which songs she is referring to.

The duo, who count garage rock acts such as Ty Segall and Cosmonauts as some of their favourite artists, say they are already working on new material.

"I think for the first record, we wanted to find a common theme to work around and create our sound.

"But we've been experimenting, some garage-y, surfy and slightly psychedelic, but still rock 'n' roll.

"We won't leave the blues behind because there are epic heights you can reach with the blues."

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